Dover's holiday parade this Sunday no matter the weather

DOVER — As tradition has it, this Sunday after Thanksgiving will be the day of the Garrison City’s holiday parade — rain, snow, wind or shine.

Saint Mary Academy and Saint Thomas Aquinas Parade Committee chose this year’s theme, “One Thousand Gifts,” to have the community reflect on the gifts within the city and its organizations.

According to Stephanie Bolduc, a parade committee member, this year’s grand marshals, Joey and Linda Hagan, owners of Jewelry Creations, were a perfect choice because of how well they fit into this year’s theme.

“Joey and Linda have dedicated countless years toward making Dover a better community to live and work in. Their years of service to the Dover Chamber of Commerce, Dover Rotary, Wentworth-Douglass Hospital, Jaden’s Ladder, Light Up Dover campaign, the list goes on and on. I have yet to find an organization within our city that Joey or Linda hasn’t been a part of. They have been a true gift to the city of Dover since the day they arrived and I don’t see their community-minded spirit diminishing anytime soon.”

The Hagans will lead the parade, starting at 2:45 p.m., on Central Avenue at Sixth Street.

Two floats this year will help advertise local Dover events and activities. Molly Hodgson Smith, executive director of the Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce, is excited to see the City Lights Committee dressed as trees, she said, helping to promote the Festival of Trees, an event that is expected to pack City Hall with more than 2,000 people and 30 decorated trees on Nov. 30 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The committee will be handing out candy and carry signage to get the word out about the event. Another float this year is Discover Dover Shift Your Shopping, sponsored by Federal Savings Bank and Ross Furniture, presented by Dover Main Street. They will be handing out Federal Savings Bank reusable tote bags filled with merchant discounts, maps and lists of holiday happenings.

The following streets will be closed from noon to 4 p.m. as the parade gets under way: Sixth Street (between Central Avenue and Horne Street), Maple Street (between Sixth and Hough streets), Mount Vernon Street (between Sixth and Hough), and Grove Street (between Sixth and Hough as well as between Sixth and Lincoln streets).

Another addition to the parade will be Pam Simpson, of Harvey’s Bakery and Coffee Shop, being driven by Eastern Propane Holiday Gold Mobile by Cider Berry. Simpson has been chosen as this year’s Greater Dover Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year.

“Pam is another amazing asset to the city. She has been involved with the Dover Chamber and she rallied to get the flags throughout downtown Dover as well as chaired the Light Up Dover campaign to bring festive, holiday lights in order to make our city more beautiful during the holidays,” Bolduc said. “It is only fitting to honor her this year, as well.”

Only residents and parade participants are allowed from the Hough Street entrance to their respective streets. Participants should make arrangements to drop off pedestrians outside of the aforementioned restricted areas.

Liberty Mutual has graciously underwritten this year’s holiday parade, while Service Credit Union took on the role of lead sponsor. Rochester Truck has donated trucks, flatbeds and drivers for those who have created a float for the parade, and D.F. Richard, Garrison City Early Childhood Center, Shaheen & Gordon, P.A., Federal Savings Bank, Foster’s Daily Democrat, Wyskiel, Boc, Tillinghast & Bolduc, P.A. have sponsored the bands.